Project 914-LT1 Canadian V8 conversion, Getting Started with Engine Build-up Options

[ajracer]

Greetings Fellow teeners !

Now that the COLD weather has arrived with - 5 F temperatures and the snow has
just hit Toronto hard, so I thought it would be a good time to post a new thread and
share my excitement with getting started with my V-8 conversion and build-up of the
vehicle. Let’s say I am not new to automotive, but have been in hibernation for over
twenty years. Porsche's are new to me; but German engineering is not since I used
to race formula vee (VW powered) many years ago in Atlantic Canada.

I should also mention that I am not a mechanic or ever received any "formal" training
in mechanics, but I have been around karts, motorcycles, hot rods and race cars for
more years than my 31 yr. old teener. I have build up a few Chevy small blocks and
always had good success, never any problems with good old faithful since they are
a strong and reliable engine made in the US of A, or Canada of course ! I have more
recently spent two years restoring and a complete build up of 1972 Super Beetle for
my beloved daughter. So I have been rehoning my skills in bodywork, welding, painting,
engine building, mechanics, etc. Now after acquiring a very nice Porsche 914 from
Florida that belonged to a deceased family friend, I thought this would be a good time
to bring the teener to my garage and begin this challenging CONVERSION. See for me I
get the Best of Both Worlds with a P-car and a Chevy engine ! What more could a guy
want ?

Anyways I should start my thread discussion and info for others than might be interested.
Like every conversion we all have different ideas of what we want, how
we thing it should be done, what we "think" might need to be replaced, upgraded,
purchased or re done with modern or better materials and or technology ! I will share
more about this as time progresses and my thread grows; like others some things will
follow the "suggested" course taken by most within the V-8 conversion scene; But
other things and ways will be unique or different, for many reasons and maybe just
because that's the way I think is best in my eyes.

So off I go with the basic info and some of the reasons I got here. The 914 is in very
good condition according to my inspection and the key areas as suggested by the
knowledgeable ones. The car is a 1974 former 2.0 liter with a custom added roll bar
setup, which when I last looked tied into the rear suspension and side longitudinals.
The car is complete and together except for the Engine and Transmission; the purchase
also included Rod Simpson Conversion Kit with many parts, installation manual, parts
supplier list, etc; also included were a couple sets of HD rear springs, fiberglass GT
flares and rocker panels. Pictures of the car will follow after I complete the engine
build-up, then I will bring my baby in out of the cold for some tender loving care (and
a photo session) The body does require some minor body work and paint, but that
will likely not follow until the conversion is completed and car is sorted out and driving.
A good project for next winter being the bodywork.

Engine is going to be a Chevy Camaro LT1 (1995) 350 cu.in. with aluminum heads, and
other light weight components. The engine was dismantled before Christmas and sent
off to the automotive machine shop for necessary work I required, while I purchased
the new rebuild parts from my supplier friend in Halifax, NS. (wholesale purchase of
course) Got the engine pieces all back from the machine shop about two weeks ago
and thus have slowly started the rebuild assembly process. According to my engine
guy, with a little work on the heads, pistons, etc. it should make about 375 HP with 350
ft.lbs of torque. Hopefully it will perform nicely in a 2400 lbs. Porsche ! Check out the
attached photo of partially completed short block with yours truly !

Until next time have a great day and keep to those New Year’s Resolutions !
Quit drinking, Quit smoking, Quit speeding, etc !!!!! Forget it who am I kidding !


PS. What does a 914 drive like with 375 HP ? I don’t even know what a 914 drives
like since I have never honestly even been in one, before I bought mine (sight unseen)
Someone said something about it handles like a dream, and great G-force if you have
the guts to push and hang on tight !

[ajracer]

Gentlemen; here we go with INFO

Yes Bondo you are correct in that I am kind of trail blazing !
Or more like trial and error (hopefully not too many errors).

Let me first say that I wanted to keep this “project” an little secret until I had everything completed, after my designing, engineering and fabrication of the various components that have gone into this project. In saying that I am a very honest person but may have been a little vague with some issue, ESPECIALLY the fact concerning my transmission plans. Bruce; I did mentioned that many tranny plans included an “Audi type” transmission (seeing that the actual Porsche tranny components in this case are mfg. By Audi and include their insignia) BUT the actual fact is I decided to use a 1998 Boxster Five speed !!!! Sorry to be a little misleading but I wanted to keep quiet about this little “Canadian Project” car until basically completed.

There were many reasons for this choice, but the main one was that after I had purchased an aluminum 915 tranny, did my own extensive research and concluded I would need to spend another large sum of $$$ to upgrade for mid engine, gear ratios and then custom order shifter, etc, etc. Then at best I still had a “915” tranny which I understand even a Porsche 6 cyl. can destroy !

SO here I am with a V8 Chev 350 LT1 balanced , blue printed and a good BOXSTER transmission !!! Hopefully I will have the vehicle on the road within a month or two once I complete the installation of the various items necessary to roadworthiness.

I have not, nor do I actually plan to open the tranny or make any internal changes ! But I have fabricated my own set-up to retain the cable clutch operating unit back until the tranny. THEN I have added a lever linkage set up to activate the clutch arm within the Boxster tranny. The details of the actual flywheel, starter, pressure plate, clutch disc will likely remain a private issue at this time. As well the actual engine tranny adapter plate is also a custom item I designed and fabricated which has some unique features. In all this has been a challenging project of looking for potential problems and then developing solution before the problems materialized. Yes there will likely be additional problems, challenges and hopefully more solutions; thus the challenge of trail blazing !! I guess I am a bit of a risk taker, willing to try something new or different with the hope of getting a different of better result when completed. Time will tell !!!

Gear ratios should be acceptable for V8, the shifter is “Stock" Boxster transplanted with an adapter plate into the original 914 shifter mount. The Boxster CABLE SHIFTER is a great work of art and one that I am really pleased with !! As you can notice from the last couple of photos this is really only a trial fitting and I need to locate the sweet spot for the engine and then fabricate a tranny mount and start getting ready to roll down the side streets of Toronto.

I will also try a attached a couple of additional photos that may indicate some of the progress along the way regarding this tranny set-up. Once completed and operational I would be more than pleased to provide additional feedback and possible supply custom components should some others be interested in using either the Boxster Five speed or even Six speed tranny. (Yes they are different but the solutions necessary to use with a V8 are similar). Thanks again for following along and happy motoring teeners !!

Allan